The Element Encyclopedia of Vampires

Element Encyclopedia

by Theresa Cheung, Andy Paciorek (Illustrator)

An A to Z of the Undead


Bloodsuckers. Immortals. Nightstalkers. Cold ones. Though they’ve sported different names and different guises, vampires have existed in almost every culture of our world. They’ve haunted our darkest dreams, simultaneously invoking both fear and fascination. After all, the question still plagues us centuries later…do vampires actually exist?


THE ELEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VAMPIRES examines the dark depths of the vampire world, separating the myth from the chilling reality. Discover vampiric folklore and legend from around the world before descending into real-life case histories of mortal blood drinkers. Loaded with details and facts about:



The science of vampires
The vampire family tree, including ghosts, witches and werewolves
Vampires through history
The methods of finding, identifying, and destroying vampires
The vital significance of blood
Famous vampirologists and vampire organizations

Discover why the sadistic practices of Elizabeth Bathory led to her nickname, “Countess Dracula,”, what the role of the Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency (the FVZA) was, why you should never jump over a corpse, and how the Penangal - a screaming blood-soaked beast that drifts through the Malayan jungle - finds its victims.


Organized from A to Z, this is the most comprehensive and up-to-date book on vampires and their history. Lift the coffin and determine for yourself what is real…and what is undead.

Genres: Vampires, Reference, Nonfiction, Occult, History, Paranormal, Supernatural

685 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Theresa Cheung is an internationally bestselling author and public speaker. She has been writing about spirituality, dreams and the paranormal for the past 35 years, and was listed by Watkins Mind Body and Spirit magazine as one of the 100 most spiritually influential living people in 2023. She has a degree in Theology and English from Kings College, Cambridge University, frequently collaborating with leading scientists and neuroscientists researching consciousness.

Theresa is regularly featured in national newspapers and magazines, and she is a frequent radio, podcast and television guest. She hosts her own popular spiritual podcast called White Shores and her own weekly UK Health Radio show: The Healing Power of Your Dreams.

Reviews

[Jayme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It was super entertaining, and actually really useful for a paper I was writing. It covered literally EVERYTHING about Vampires. I think they need to make one for Zombies too.

[Sophie Avett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what it sounds like and it is a wonderful source of information. Awesome organization. It breaks down different types of creatures, but it also tackles broader concepts like "blood" and what it means to various different depictions of vampires. I did get this one at Barnes and Noble, and it was a bargain book, but it has been worth every penny and I wouldn't mind paying the full price for it. I definitely recommend!

[Roseandtrad · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is mostly blatantly plagiarised, and from the internet no less. Well done bloodsucker.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not something you can read straight through but interesting to dip into and a great source of information if you are thinking about writing in this genre. There is a little too much repitiion with cross posts but I understand how hard that is to avoid. Lots of fascinating tidbits.

[Shelley Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous source for vampire fans everywhere!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. My friend, "Hey, you want cheesey garlic bread with the pizza?" Me, "Interesting fact about garlic and vampires, did you know not all vampires...(proceeds to educate them)..." My friend, --orders the bread and turns on the t.v.-- Good book to have on hand just in case

[Dara Tuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book, great history on Vampires and gathering of information collected about how we view Vampires through history.

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main thing about this book is not to be put off by the writer's cited occupation as psychic, tarot reader etc, as well as a short piece on the "reality" of vampires.

It is thoroughly researched, very comprehensive and meticulous, citing information from world folklore in an essential sense (sources from every continent, vampiric inspirations in world mythology and legend and so on), from literature, film, history (a number of interesting "vampiric" crimes for instance) and more, going so far as presenting entries that show the evolution (or devolution) of the vampiric trope.

A truly invaluable resources, citing many, many sources for further reading.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but towards the end it started to get repetitive and i was missing chunks out because id already read about it earlier in the book. I would recommend this though and will be going back to it

[Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in bits and pieces over the past year, and it's one of the best Element Encyclopedias I've read so far, second to Magical Creatures.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and impressively researched trove of every possible topic related to vampire folklore.

[Nina Misson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Otherwise cute but since a lot of entries regarding my own country were wrong and a number a film data too, I simply didn't trust the rest of the book. All in all is cute but don't take it (too) seriously.

[Betsy]

Very interesting... love it...

[Candace Bowser · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is okay but not as comprehensive as I hoped it would be and is missing a lot of information that I have on hand

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good general overview of things.

[Kim Canich · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty informative